Excise Dept cracks whip on 16 liquor contractors

Ramkrishan Upadhyay

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 22

The Department of Excise and Taxation has imposed a penalty of Rs 1 lakh each on 16 liquor contractors.

Sources said Rakesh Kumar Popli, Additional Commissioner, Excise and the Taxation Department, has penalised those contractors who were found selling liquor below the price fixed by the Administration.

The department carried out a check recently and found that liquor of different brands was being sold at cheaper rates. Notices under the excise policy were issued to them and after the hearing, Popli imposed the penalty.

Under the licence policy, the Administration has fixed the minimum rate of each type of liquor. No one is allowed to sale below the rates. The decision was taken to prevent adulterated liquor from hitting the market.

The sources said the contractors defied the directions and started selling liquor below the MRP to attract customers.

One of the traders involved in the business said vends situated in border areas were also selling liquor at cheaper rates. The police have failed to curb the illegal sale of liquor in colonies, which is also affecting the business. The sources said checks would continue in the coming days. Last year, Popli had suspended the licence of 22 vends for two days for selling the liquor below the fixed MRP.

Officials seize liquor

Officials of the Excise Department seized liquor taken out from a bottling plant situated in the Industrial Area on Thursday.